Remote control locating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A remote control locating apparatus  10  is provided which includes a coupling band  12  for couplingly engaging the remote control  14  The coupling band  12  is secured to a flexibly extending elongated member  16  at one end thereof A grasping member  24  for graspingly engaging a desired predetermined readily identifiable object is coupled to the other end of the flexibly extending elongated member  16  As a result the grasping member  24  can be attached to a predetermined object so that the remote control  14  can be secured thereto and readily located.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote control, and more particularly to an apparatus to be attached to a remote control that makes the remote control more accessible and easy to locate. We live in an era of electronic devices. Electronic devices such as televisions, stereo equipment, radios and video recorders, just to name a few, are among the most popular and commonly used. Most of these electronic devices, in particular the television, are as matter of course equipped with a remote control. The remote control allows the user of the electronic device to control the electronic device from remote locations. Because remote control devices are small and by their nature physically unattached to the electronic devices being controlled they are frequently lost or misplaced. This of course can be very inconvenient and aggravating to a user. Accordingly it is desirable to provide an apparatus that allows a user to readily locate the remote control thereby making it unlikely that the remote control will be lost or misplaced.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] There are several remote control locating devices in existence today One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,634 This device is a holder which includes an enclosure having a compartment for holding a remote control when it is not being used. This device is also provided with a cover which may be opened to remove the remote control for use. The holder also includes an attaching mechanism for attaching the remote control to the enclosure so it cannot be separated from the holder. The contention is that because the remote control holder of this invention is slightly larger than the remote control it becomes more difficult to misplace the remote control when it is in or attached to the holder Although this device is larger than the remote control and more difficult to misplace it to can be easily misplaced because, like the remote control it is not attached to the remotely controlled electronic device.

[0003] Another remote control locating apparatus is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,021 This apparatus includes a platform having opposing long sides. Each side has a wall extending upward from the platform. Each wall includes a padded structure along the inward facing surface. The padded structure includes a cover. A first switch is disposed within one of the padded structures adjacent the cover. A remote control unit is of significant width for the remote control unit to depress the first switch when placed inside the holder. The first switch is connected to a first power source and a timer circuit. The timer circuit is connected to a transmitter and configured to control the operation of the circuit. The remote control unit includes a second power source which is connected to a receiver which is connected to a sound generating circuit. When the remote control unit is removed from the remote control holder and a predetermined time expires the remote control unit will emit a sound until the unit is located. Although this device allows a user to locate the remote control unit when desired it is not cost effective because of the electronic circuitry required to facilitate the unit's operation. A more economical apparatus is desirable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A remote control locating apparatus is provided The remote control locating apparatus in accordance with the principles of this invention includes a means for couplingly engaging the remote control. The remote control locating apparatus also includes a flexibly extending elongated means which is coupled at one end thereof to the remote control engaging means. A means is coupled to another end of the flexibly extending elongated means for graspingly engaging a predetermined readily identifiable object thereby securing the remote control thereto in a predetermined location. As a result the remote control is always available to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0005] The details of the invention will be described in connection with accompanying drawing in which:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a remote control locating apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the remote control locating apparatus coupled to a remote control in accordance with the principles of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a remote control locating apparatus, generally designated, by the numeral, 10 The apparatus 10 is provided with a circular shaped coupling band 12. The coupling band 12 is formed of an elastic material and has dimensions which allows the band to couplingly engage an article placed therein. The coupling band 12 is provided to be placed around and couplingly engage a remote control 14 (FIG. 2).

[0009] The remote control locating apparatus 10 is also provided with a flexible elongated cord, generally designated, by the numeral, 16 The elongated cord 16 is provided with a plurality of circularly shaped adjacently coupled flexible members 18. The flexible members 18 allow the elongated cord 16 to be flexibly extended from a minimum to a maximum predetermined distance depending on the number of flexible members included in the cord The elongated cord 16 is coupled to the coupling band 12 at one end 20 thereof by a coupling device 22.

[0010] The remote control locating apparatus 10 also includes a grasping member, generally designated, by the numeral, 24 The grasping member 24 is provided with a pair of aligned opposed gripping members, generally designated, by the numerals 26 and 28, respectively, which are pivotably coupled to each other by a pivot pin 30 Each of the gripping members 26 and 28 is provided with a plurality of teeth or engaging members 32 The engaging members 32 interact with each other, in a well known manner, to allow the grasping member 24 to be selectively attached to a desired predetermined readily identifiable object (not shown) The grasping member 24 is coupled to the elongated member 16 at an end 34 thereof by a coupling device 36 connected to the gripping member 28.

[0011] When it desired to use the remote control locating apparatus 10, a user inserts the remote control 14 into the coupling band 12 The grasping member 24 can then be attached to a predetermined readily identifiable object (not shown). The object that the apparatus 10 is secured to will depend on the room in which the remote control is being used and the identifiability of the object. For example, if the remote control is being used to control a television in the users bedroom, the apparatus 10 may be attached to a user's bedding, pillowcase, comforter or the like. As long as the remote control apparatus 10 is attached to a readily identifiable object the result will be that the remote control 14 is always in a predetermined identifiable location thus readily available to the user

[0012] It should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claim. 

What is claimed 1 an apparatus for locating a remote control which includes: means for couplingly engaging the remote control; a flexibly extending elongated means coupled at one end thereof to the remote control engaging means; and means, coupled to another end of the flexibly extending elongated means, for graspingly engaging a predetermined readily identifiable object so that the remote control is secured thereto.
 2. An apparatus for locating a remote control as defined in claim 1 wherein the remote control engaging means is a circular shaped band member which couplingly engages the remote control. 3 An apparatus for locating a remote control as defined in claim 2 wherein the flexibly extending elongated means includes a plurality of adjacently coupled circular like members.
 4. An apparatus for locating a remote control as defined in claim 3 wherein the predetermined object engaging means includes a pair of adjacently aligned arms coupled for pivotal movement 5 An apparatus for locating a remote control as defined in claim 4 wherein each arm member includes a plurality of teeth-like engaging members formed therein.
 6. An apparatus for locating a remote control as defined in claim 5 wherein the remote control apparatus includes a first coupling member for coupling the band member to one end of the elongated means. 7 An apparatus for locating a remote control as defined in claim 6 wherein the remote control apparatus includes a second coupling member for coupling the other end of the elongated means to a predetermined one of the arms of the object engaging means. 